13 Nov 2022

Department of Broadcasting Services road shows, one of whose objective is to promote the use of local artistic content on radio and television, recently reached Francistown, where some 200 organisations showcased their products and services, with a view to creating networks that will link them with strategic partners to aid their growth.

Addressing attendees, Assistant Minister in the Ministry for State President, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu said ‘local music is lekker’, meaning that local products are good.

He said as such the department had taken a decision to play local content amounting to 80 per cent.

Mthimukhulu explained that the ‘lekker’ initiatives were also another key area where economic growth could be spurred, adding that local music was capable of driving and promoting local businesses. Mthimukhulu appreciated the partnership between the Department of Broadcasting Services and Big Dawg Productions, saying the duo continued to marvel in mingling with the creatives across the country in an effort to promote local artistes.

He explained that the initial aim of the roadshow was to commemorate RB2’s 30^th anniversary and that the roads how, which began in Kanye, would cover a total of 50 towns and villages with DJ Fresh, one of the first RB2 deejays. Mthimukhulu said the other aim of the road show was to empower artistes through workshops run in partnership with COSBOTS, BEPA and BOMU to assist them to take advantage of the 80 per cent local music quota for the state broadcasting services.

He appealed to local artistes to up their game and make sure that they produced quality music, which was good enough to attract local listeners, adding that ‘Batswana had got talent’, which they, however, failed to utelise to improve their living standards.

For his part, artiste, Aubrey Motlhabani aka Grubamba said the countrywide road show was a welcome development in the promotion of local music.

He made a plea that the subsequent shows should include those villages that the ongoing one had excluded, adding that a lot of music enthusiasts failed to attend due to lack of financial resources to reach venues.

Another artiste, Goitseone Chamo also welcomed the show, saying it exposed the artistes to music legends and fans. 

“I came face to face with my supporters and this is exciting  because live music is adorable,” he explained. Chamo said the show gave every artiste a platform to let the public sample their product, opining that such shows would have an impact if held three to four times in a year. Ends